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The Chrysalis on the Verge of Greatness

There is no doubt that as beautiful as life can be, “living is like licking honey off a thorn,” as Louis Adamic says. It’s really a bittersweet experience and it is certainly challenging sometimes. “Challenging” might even be an understatement for some of what we have to go through. The trials, the pain, the suffering…

But, oftentimes, we have this misconception that the bad is truly negative. It feels terrible and it isn’t anything any of us would want to experience.

What if, however, what we label as “negative,” “bad,” and “ugly” can be seen as powerful agents of transformation? I have found in my life that the worse things that have happened to me— the most trying experiences, have always been the strongest forces of transformation ever.

You see the problem with life when all is hunky dory is that the imperative to rise up to new heights and experience life past our self-imposed boundaries may simply not be there. We live in a culture with an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality and when things are going fine, we tend to get comfortable and yes, sometimes complacent.

That’s when the Universe comes in and presents us with a challenge. I am thoroughly convinced of this. We humans are chrysalises and if at times we become a little too comfortable in our cocoon, the Universe itself will present us with the imperative to begin the difficult journey of emerging out.

The path of emergence is not an easy one. It involves change, it involves courage, it involves going into unknown territory, and it involves facing our deepest fears.

Recently I’ve been facing what feels like a stack pile of challenges.Tears have streamed down my face and I have wondered what is happening in my life. But, at the end of the day, the most important thing that anyone of us facing difficulties can do is remind ourselves that we are chrysalises. We are on the cusp of emerging into the greatness of who we are and the challenge is our key to getting there.

“May we all learn that pain is not the end of the journey, and neither is delight. We can hold them both-indeed hold it all-at the same time, remembering that everything in these quixotic, unpredictable, unsettled and unsettling, exhilarating and heart-stirring times is a doorway to awakening in sacred world.” — Pema Chödrön

When we are able to put our challenges into context and grow from them, we begin to see the sacred nature of the experiences of all life. Life is our friend even if it shows us some tough love at times.